Wine for Havdalah
QUESTION: How much wine does one need for Havdalah?
ANSWER: One must use a cup that holds at least a revi’is of wine for Havdalah. There are different opinions as to the exact size of a revi’is. According to Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l a revi’is is between 3 and 4.4 oz. According to Chazon Ish, it is as much as 5.1 oz. Regarding Torah obligations such as Kiddush on Friday night, one should use the larger amount (i.e. 4.4 or 5.1 oz.). For Kiddush on Shabbos day which is only a Rabbinic obligation, one may use the smaller size (i.e. 3 oz). Although according to some opinions, Havdalah is also a Torah obligation, still the Mishnah Berurah (Bieur Halacha 271 s.v. shel) implies that for Havdalah one may rely on the smaller measurement of a Revi'is. Of course, for those for whom wine is plentiful, it is preferable to use a larger cup. The minhag is to overflow the cup, as a sign of blessing (Rama OC 296:1). One must drink a melo lugmav (a cheekful of wine, approximately equal to half a revi’is), to fulfill the mitzvah of havdalah. Nonetheless, the Shulchan Oruch (OC 210:1) writes that it is best to avoid drinking only a melo lugmav because it is uncertain if that amount necessitates a bracha achrona. It is therefore proper to drink a full revi’is for havdalah (Mishnah Berurah 296:6).
____________________________________________________
The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.